Decision Virginia is the online home of NBC 12′s political coverage. NBC 12 is the number one news station in Central Virginia

John Watkins

09/10/2015

While Virginia Republicans hold a commanding lead in the House of Delegates, the margin is just two seats in the State Senate. If Democrats can pick up just one seat to force a 20-20 tie in the Senate, the party would effectively have control with Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam casting a tie-breaking vote.

Both parties will be watching several key Senate races which could turn the tide on Nov. 3.

District 10

The key race will be in Central Virginia as four candidates are vying to fill the seat vacated by Sen. John Watkins who is retiring after 27 years in the district. While Republicans have controlled the seat for nearly three decades, Democrat Dan Geckerholds a fundraising lead with more than $500,000 in contributions -- more than the other three candidates combined. Republican Glen Sturtevant will try and take the seat for the GOP, but like Gecker, Indpendent Marleen Durfee and Liberitarian Carl Loser, he has never served in statewide office.

District 6

Perhaps just as intriguing is the race in Accomack for the 6th District between Democrat incumbent Lynwood Lewis and Republican challenger Richard Ottinger. While Lewis won the seat in 2014, it was an 11 vote victory in a special election. Still, Lewis has outraised Ottinger $270,000 to $151,000 and the district leans left.

District 1

John Miller (D- Newport News) should have little to fear is defending his seat against first-time challenger Mark Matney. Matney was a late fill-in after John Bloommissed filing a candidacy form. Still, Miller has never enjoyed a large margin of victory in his two previous elections for the seat.

District 21

The best chance for a Republican upset may be in Roanoke where Independent Donald Caldwell may help unseat incumbent Democrat Sen. John Edwards. Caldwell is a long-time Democrat and could steal enough votes to help Republican Nancy Dye take the seat back for the GOP. After 20 years in the seat, Edwards will remain hard to beat.

District 29

Another GOP opportunity lies in the open seat out of Northern Virginia where Manassas Mayor Hal Parrish holds a lead over Democrat Jeremy McPike. While the seat was most recently held by Democrat Charles Colgan for nearly 40 years, Parrish could help Republicans take the district for the first time since 1976.

District 17

Republican Bryce Reeves flipped this seat for the GOP by taking out Edd Hock in 2011, but he did it by only 226 votes and Democrats hope Ned Gallaway will win the seat out of Albemarle back for the party.

District 20

The contest between Republican Bill Stanley and Democrat Kim Adkins is expected to be tight, as well. Stanley holds a substantial fundraising lead and is the incumbent, but won in 2011 by around 1.26 percent.

02/28/2015

After a standoff threatened to derail a deal ending lax gift restrictions and unregulated trips ranging from Napa to Paris, Virginia lawmakers passed new ethics legislation Friday, with the General Assembly adjourning early for the first time in 15 years.

The new restrictions lower caps on all gifts from $250 to $100, and end exemptions for certain intangible gifts - such as meals and trips. Elected officials would now have to report items over $50 and have an assortment of free travel plans pre-approved.

If Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) signs the legislation, Virginia’s Conflicts of Interest Advisory Council will review future travel itineraries, and require trips to have reasonable connections with lawmakers’ official duties.

The council will have five days to approve or reject travel, with some political trips exempt from pre-clearance requirements.

Delegates gather in the House Chamber in Richmond, Va. for the 2015 session. Photo via VA Public Radio

Travel for political events must still be reported on campaign finance filings, and travel necessary for state duties will also be exempt.

But the Capitol delved into deadlock during the session’s final hours, with several senators unconvinced that new ethics guidelines were needed.

The impasse followed earlier debate in the Senate this month, when a handful of Republicans blamed the media for forcing them to pass new anti-corruption laws.

“The press is not going to be satisfied until it’s zero,” said Sen. John Watkins, (R-Powhatan), referring to proposed gift caps. “My admonition would be to the press. Figure it out. Because I don’t think you have yet.”

Gift amounts have now dropped precipitously, with the Virginia Public Access Project reporting gifts received by Gov. McDonnell in his first year averaging $661, compared to $99 received by Gov. McAuliffe.

Despite the General Assembly's passage of ethics reform, lawmakers and advocacy groups said significant shortfalls still exist.

“I am disappointed that essentially, the [Advisory Council] still has no real investigative and enforcement capabilities,” said Sen. A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) in a statement Friday.

“There remains no cap on the cumulative value of gifts, and the gift ban has potentially problematic exemptions that render it much weaker than it should be.”

The current $250 limit adopted in 2014 only applies to lobbyists, and caps the total value of gifts a single lobbyist may give to a lawmaker at $250.

The new $100 cap means anyone can give a state official an unlimited number of gifts, as long as each gift has a value of $100 or lower.

Anna Scholl, executive director of liberal advocacy group ProgressVA, said although positive reforms have been made, Friday’s actions are not strong enough.

“Legislators refused to establish an independent and impartial ethics commission with the power to randomly audit ethics filings, investigate signed complaints, and refer findings for prosecution,” Scholl said.

“The approved bill also carves out a loophole for privately-sponsored travel for legislators and elected officials to private conferences.”

House Republican leaders said new ethics regulations will increase transparency in government, and touted lawmakers reaching a deal in time to adjourn early for the first session since 2000.

“Completing our work early saves taxpayer dollars and illustrates that Richmond can rise above the partisan gridlock so easily visible in Washington,” said the House Republican Leadership in a statement.

“While Congress is at a standstill, under Republican leadership the House has worked diligently and efficiently to finish ahead of schedule.”

01/09/2013

Both Sen. John Watkins (R-Powhatan) and Sen. Don McEachin (D- Henrico) are physically big men in their own right. They both stand 6 feet tall and over and have strolled the halls of Virginia's Capitol building for many years.

While at different points in their career the two have distinguished themselves for one reason or another, this could be the session where their influence could make or break progress on several important issues.

Watkins has spent years sorting through the issues pertaining to the funding of transportation and the future of uranium mining in the Commonwealth. This year Watkins has a significant proposal to raise the gas tax to fund transportation long term and he has come out in support of opening up Coles Hill to mining.

Watkins is smack dab in the middle of both issues. His transportation proposal is drastically different than his fellow republican Bob McDonnell and has the support of Democrats like McEachin. Uranium mining is something McEachin opposes but many other Democrats support. Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, still flirting with a run for governor is also in opposition to lifting the ban.

But as both sides look to find common ground, it could be players like Watkins and McEachin who look to forge compromise.

"There is not one bit of daylight between John Watkins and me when it comes to transportation," said McEachin. "It's not a perfect bill but it goes a long way."

McEachin supports the transportation concept, but is not moving on the ban. He said both issues have members from both sides of the isle picking sides. It will require a bi-partisan consensus to come to some sort of resolution. And it is consensus that McEachin is looking for. Something that may not be easy in an year with state wide elections.

"I anticipate that we will have more fireworks similar to what we had last year," he said. "But my hope is we will focus on those kitchen table issues."

I have more on the role McEachin and Watkins will play in the 2013 session in my story from NBC12:

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- Virginia's General Assembly is back to
work in Richmond. On the docket are a number of issues that could directly
impact you.

If you drive a car, buy
something in a store or go to the doctor your life will be directly impacted by
the 2013 general assembly session. The state legislature has only 45 days to
tackle some big issues.

It is an odd year. That means a
shorter calendar and only updating the current budget, not starting from
scratch. Both sides are hoping there will be opportunities to get things
accomplished.

"I think it needs to be,” said
Sen. John Watkins (R-Powhatan) “Whether it bears out that way I'm not
sure."

Sen. Don McEachin (D-Henrico) agreed

"It’s my hope that this year's
session will focus on kitchen table issues, education, transportation, Medicaid
expansion,” he said. “Those are the things that impact the lives of everyday Virginians."

Unlike last year's, session which was
dominated by contentious social issues, Governor Bob McDonnell and the leaders
of both houses seem ready to tackle those issues that could directly impact
you.

Among them:

A
ban on texting while driving.

A
new funding mechanism for transportation which could either eliminate or
increase the gas tax.

Making
a decision on the future of uranium mining, something that has been pushed off
for several years.

Watkins in particular has spent a
great deal of time on uranium mining.

"We've got to make sure it is
done safely there is no question about that,” he said. “But why do we prolong the denial of the
property rights of that individual?"